Ashurst keeps 20 out of 24 NQ solicitors as it bumps trainee pay by 5%

The London office of Ashurst has confirmed its latest retention score, revealing that 20 out of its 24 newly qualifying (NQ) solicitors will be staying with the firm this autumn. This hands Ashurst, which made 21 offers, a result of 83%.

“Attracting, supporting and developing the best people from the widest talent pool is a key priority,” said Ashurst employment partner and training principal Ruth Buchanan. “We are delighted to welcome our newly qualified trainees to the team and look forward to seeing them progress in their careers.”

The 27-office-outfit, which offers 45 training spots each year, posted a result of 90% (19 out of 21) this time last year.

Ashurst also confirmed trainee pay has risen from £44,000 to £46,000 in year one and £48,000 to £50,000 in year two — uplifts of 5% and 4%, respectively.

Earlier this summer, Ashurst revealed a 14% rise in turnover from £564 million to £641 million, while profit per equity partner (PEP) jumped to £972,000 — an uplift of 31% on last year’s figure of £743,000.

In our Trainee and Junior Lawyer Survey 2019–20 the firm scored A*s for its new office and canteen, as well as As for training, quality of work, peer support, partner approachability, tech and social life.

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Duh

Viva la Resitance

Sep 9 2019 1:23pm

If the firm you’ve been with for two years does not give you an offer, it is rather indicative of one’s ability. This is different from being offered a position in tax, when really all you want to do is pensions so decline.

Anonymous

Anonymous

Sep 9 2019 2:21pm

Literally this. Virtually any firm I’ve ever seen mentioned here is, according to LC commentators, a “sweatshop” or has “psycho partners / senior associates”, and if it pays any less than 130k a year, its also a “shet” firms with “shet” pay. The few firms that do pay more than this are regarded as crapshoots where unless youre billing 2500 hours / year you get kicked out.

It makes me wonder if the majority of those commenting have any idea about the legal industry at all? It seems more likely half of them are 2nd years at Lancaster reading history, with the majority of their legal knowledge coming from the rumours spread by their LLB cohort. That, or theyre the ones who did get kicked out for drunkenly groping a trainee at the office christmas party and are now spewing “avoid! avoid! avoid!” any chance they get.

tips@legalcheek.com

Viva las Resistance

Sep 9 2019 3:14pm

The average actual sweatshop runs 14 hour days, which is synonymous of some of these Firms. It portrays a rather realistic worldview to treat them as such.

I otherwise disagree with referring to pay but working out how many hours I work as the hourly “wage” I am paid. However, it would be a sensible statement to class something as shet pay when the average 9-5 worker earns X and when I work more hours while earning Y the sum per hour is rather close to X’s hourly rate.

That and we are all petulant children, so are indeed not ready to grow up yet.

Anonymous

Sep 10 2019 1:38am

No such thing as a sweatshop that pays 4x + the national average, most City lawyers at most of these firms live like kings compared to the average Brit. This competition exists within a very small and elite circle of the top lawyers fight tooth and nail for the most prestigious clients, but at the end of the day whichever spot in the top, I dont know, 30-50 firms you land, youll probably be quite nicely set for your early adult life and beyond.

It’s kind of like a Harvard grad saying that NYU or Penn are shet schools. Thats absolutely ridiculous to anyone besides the Harvard grad, even though Harvard’s name will probably get you farther than any other name in the world (at least in law). These are all extremely elite law schools whose alumni will go on to secure, quite likely, very successful careers, and the same can be said for any lawyer over this side of the pond who secures a spot at virtually any top firm, be it US, MC, SC, or even some more regions-focused firms like IM, or global patchworks like Dentons or Bakers.